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VIDEO COPILOT BLOG News, Updates, Projects Files & Tips |
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Here is a breakdown from a cool music video called Super Nova by Marty Martin that shows some great insight to behind the scenes production. He integrated some real lens flares with a beta version of Optical Flares as well.
Freddie, is back with another hilarious video and you can see some very candid discussion on some of his clever After Effects work.
These guys are both talented and show that hard work and effort really makes a difference in the final result.
Well if we’re going to do some axe-throwing I figured it would safer (for me) to design it in 3D first. As for Sam, well he still has to watch out for the real axe but don’t worry, we have plenty of band-aids and bactine.
The 3D model is fairly simple, I took a picture of the real axe, and then traced to rod for a lathe modifier like this. The blade was a little trickier but I managed to box model the shape and added turbo smooth.
I used a couple of textures and Vray to render and I may have added a couple of Optical Flares as well. The scene took me about 5 hours to make.
What will be useful here is having the object exist in real life to do close-ups or shots of someone holding the axe and then we can use the 3D axe for other exciting things. Someone pointed out this example in the new Resident Evil trailer of a throwing Axe at the end…
My model is still missing the decorative piece on the top of the Axe but that thing can go to H#))!
I found some time to play around with the powerful 3D Orbit preset and a free icon pack. I created small groups of Icons that were linked to a Null Object and then after making 6 groups, I used the 3D orbit preset to control the smaller spinning groups with a larger spinning group. Similar to how the moon orbits the earth and our earth orbits the sun. ( and our sun of course orbits William Shatner.)
Now, I also used expressions to offset the the layers in each group so the icons did not overlap each other like in this tutorial. Then by animating the values of the orbit preset as well as the scale and rotation of the Null Objects, you can come up with some fun stuff. I also set the layers “Auto-Orient Towards Camera” so they would not turn into flat paper and collapse the universe.
Now if it still doesn’t look good… just add some lens flares and take the rest of the day off! That’s what I did, CYA 
We recently added a new feature to Optical Flares to generate native Motion Blur. This makes a lot of sense because when your light source is moving rapidly it becomes blurred and naturally the flare elements should follow. Sorry for the back-to-back plug-in updates but this one is actually fun!
The feature is simple to use, just turn on motion blur for the layer and comp switch, then adjust the samples in the plug-in Motion Blur roll-out.
The light streaks in the sample video are made with Particular and the light is moving with a wiggle expression.
Remember, too many motion blur samples can be slower so adjust the value as needed for your project.
If you are interested in learning more about Optical Flares with tutorials and examples, click here.
Hey just a quick note, there is a new version of Optical Flares 1.2.129 that addresses some various bugs and performance improvements for Mac and PC. As we continue to develop new plug-ins this page will also serve as a location to find and get new versions.
After looking at some amazing pictures of the recent Volcano I was inspired to bring one of them to life. I wanted to animate a still image to make it look it was video shot from a moving helicopter. I added some Optical Flares and subtle camera shake to give it a little more life. I also used the liquify filter to animate the smoke over time as it plumed out. There are also some small falling ash particles created with particular.
The flying parallax effect is a little tricky but I’ll see about making a quick tip or including it in the upcoming blog show.
All Video Copilot products now support After Effects CS5 and free updates are available for Optical Flares and Twitch.
Important Information About CS5 and 64-bit:
- Each Plug-in comes in 2 versions: one for After Effects CS5 (64-bit) and one for previous versions of After Effects such as AE 7, CS3 & CS4 (32-bit).
- Please install the plug-in based on your version After Effects only. The 64-bit version is for After Effects CS5 only and NOT based on your Operating System.
- So if you have AE CS4 installed on the 64-bit version of Windows 7, you still only need to install the 32-bit version of the plug-in because AE CS4 is still a 32-bit application.
- Customers can reuse their current licenses with this update. Simply copy your license file from the previous directory into the new installation folder. If you have a new computer or need to request a new license please contact our support team.
PLUG-IN UPDATES:
Download Optical Flares 1.2.128 Update*
This update is for all customers, not just CS5. It includes several new features.
*We fixed a couple of bugs as well from 2 days ago.
Download Twitch CS5 Update
Order Email Required to download.
The Optical Flares 1.2 update is now available and includes several new features for all Optical Flares customers:
- Added 64-bit support for AE CS5
- New “Unified Interface” with automatic scaling
- Rearrange window panels
- Full-Screen Mode
- 16:9 Guides now visible
- Show BG warning
- No more slide-out panel (Yay!)
Watch Video Demonstration of New Interface
Download Optical Flares 1.2 (Order Email Required)
New Forum for Video Copilot Plug-ins:
Now there is a dedicated place to talk about Video Copilot plug-ins including features, questions, compatibility. Click Here
Optical Flares 1.2 will be launching soon, this update features several new improvements including Full Screen mode and adjustable panels and windows. We’re just going through some more testing and it will be available soon. I know it’s taking a little longer than expected but the new features are nice.
This free update is for all versions including 32-bit and added support for AE CS5 in 64-bit.
UPDATE: Twitch ZIP file updated. Thanks.
Alright! So many of you have upgraded to After Effects CS5 for all the 64-bit amazingness and so we have been working to update our 32-bit plug-ins to work with the new version. Of course we will continue to develop and support the our 32-bit plug-ins as well.
Here is what you need to know for VC Tools:
All of our Stock Footage, Music and Sound FX products like Action Essentials II & Pro Scores are already compatible with AE CS5, there is no update required. The free video Copilot Presets will also work in CS5 as well.
For our plug-ins such as Optical Flares, Twitch, as well as our free tools, Sure Target and VC reflect, After Effects CS5 requires a 64-bit version to work.
Here is the download information:
Twitch 1.1 64-bit (Requires email address, re-use your current license)
Optical Flares 64-bit:
While working on the 64-bit update for Optical Flares, we ran into a small hitch that was going to change the way pop-out windows would behave on OS X. So we decided move forward on a new feature that would solve this problem and give people with larger screens more space.
Basically the Optical flares update will now launch in Full-Screen mode, with resizeable control windows to take advantage of more screen space for editing and browsing presets. This update will be available for 64-bit and current 32-bit customers at no charge.
We apologize for the delay and we expect this to be available next week.
In this exciting new tutorial we will be keying, tracking, roto-scoping, exporting, integrating, color correcting and a lot more. This 47 minutes tutorial starts out in After Effects and covers generating the 3D building in 3D Max & Cinema 4D. No match-moving or 3D tracking required everything is done with the 2D tracker in AE. I’ve even included the 3D building for everyone to use.
You can even skip the 3D programs and build a sweet building in After Effects alone with the 3D City Tutorial.
Watch behind the Scenes Blog Show
Plug-Promotion:
You can even add some of your own lens flares with our 3D Lens Flare Plug-in Optical Flares!
You know what I like more than a Sci-Fi short film?
One that uses Optical Flares & Action Essentials 2! Well, now that I have exploited the filmmakers to plug some of our sweet products, I WOULD like to say that this short, not only has some great effects and visuals but it also zings some of my favorite movies.
I really liked the locations and atmosphere of the futuristic world. You can really see the hard work and passion that went into this, plus they pulled it off for only 5K bucks. And now I’m sharing it with everyone here on Video Copilot!
We should all go out and make cool films!
So the news has been out for some time and I’ve been getting emails about my thoughts on the new version so i figured now would be a good time to chime in. Now, I will point out that I do not get paid or asked to say anything but as always, I accept free TVs and Lakers playoff tickets.
Cool New Features:
http://www.adobe.com/products/aftereffects/
AE CS5 is jet-packed with new features and workflow improvements that may seem a bit techy and possibly boring when compared to my feature request which was a 3D jet-pack generator but it seems to have been overlooked. What IS great about many of the new features is that they simplify some of the dirty work in after effects, like rotoscoping so that you CAN be more creative.
The Mocha integration is one of my favorite new features that allows Mocha-tracked masked to be imported to AE with refinement control. Mocha is a great planar tracking tool (included) for tracking moving elements for compositing. This feature may sound “boring” but you can do things like facial de-aging for blemish removals with perfectly tracked masks, and maybe even create an obscuration masks for adding jet-packs to0!
The new Roto Brush tool also looks promising. From someone that just finished 2 weeks of serious FX work, I look forward to trying out the new tool, and if it works half as good as it looks, it should be a real time saver. Many of the shots I worked on involved enhancing explosions or adding elements but before the fun stuff, I had to do wire-removal or remove or mask-out foreground elements, which generally took the majority of the time.
Getting FreeForm for … free, is also a pretty sweet. This plug-in allows you to warp layers in 3D with some intuitive controls. It’s a bit on the slow side for more complex warps but having the ability to warp layers is very useful.
I can also tell you that the interface seems quite snappy compared to previous versions as well, gotta like that.
The 64-Bit Dilemma
Now, to the most powerful and possibly most controversial new feature in AE CS5 is that the software is 64-bit ONLY. What this means is that AE CS5 will only run on a 64-bit machine with a 64-bit Operating system.
The benefits of 64-bit software include the ability to access more that 3 GBs of RAM for rendering and previews as well as allow faster processing of larger images, larger comps and higher color-spaces (32bpc).
When I think about this situation, I wonder, could Adobe have made a 32 bit version as well, so that users with non-64 bit machines wouldn’t have to upgrade there systems? Maybe. But would we have got all the new features found in CS5? Another more IMPORTANT question is this, why didn’t Adobe just NOT make a 64-bit version and just continue the success of AE without interrupting functionality for any users by keeping it 32-bit? When you think about this question, it makes more sense.
If you look at the current state of Visual Effects and multimedia, it’s progressing rather INSANELY, with HD, 2K and 4K and even 3D films becoming more common our software is being asked to do quite a bit. By NOT taking that NEXT step towards the inevitable future and the increasing demands of new media Adobe and the users, risk losing their edge.
64-bit computers have been around for quite a while and 3D software makers were one of the first adopters. When using huge texture maps and fancy 3D renderings the results were affected by limited memory access due to 32-bit software so 64-bit support was essential to taking renderings to the next level. 3D max 9 came out with a 64-bit version in 2006, and since then compositing tools, like After Effects have been pushed to new limits with 3D comping and 32-bit color projects.
I wouldn’t want software makers like Adobe to be making big changes like this all-the-time (not that they would, unlike Apple ) but I also don’t want serious innovation and development to wait for every last person to be on board before implementing it for people who could really benefit right now. If you ever had a failed render or struggled with large images just days before a deadline, you’ll be pleased with the innovation and for those who aren’t yet pushing the limits of HD, you will be soon and you’ll be happy the technology is there.
And yes QuickTime videos will continue to work in AE CS5 as expected.
How do you get to 64-bits?
Before people start running for the hills… or people that live in the hills start running down the river… Here are some considerations:
- Mac users running OS X v10.5.7 or v10.6 with 2nd Gen. Intel processor, are good-to-go. Your hardware and OS ready now.
- PC users should know that most hardware purchased in the last 3-4 years is 64-bit ready and most likely there are 64-bit supported drivers available if you wanted to change from a 32-bit OS to a 64-bit OS
- If you are buying a new computer, just request a native 64-bit OS, I’ve been using Windows 7 x64 with great success for a while.
- If your current AE version is good enough and you don’t think you will benefit from the new features… just wait until you do need it.
Another consideration when upgrading is to make sure your other favorite programs are supported under a new 64-bit OS. In most cases 32-bit software will run without problems under a 64-bit OS. One thing to keep in mind is that not all software will benefit from 64-bits, so it is quite alright to run a 32 bit version.
3rd Party Plug-in Concerns:
A major part of the After Effects popularity is the sweet plug-ins that give us magical new features like Particular and perhaps Optical Flares
Bottom line: 32-bit plug-ins will NOT work in AE CS5 without an update but, most developers have already promised support for 64-bit with free or low cost upgrade. For the record, Video Copilot is offering free upgrades for our plug-ins: Twitch and Optical Flares as well as our free plug-ins Sure Target 2 and VC Reflect.
Don’t forget, 64 bit processing is a feature and having plug-ins that work natively is a real benefit.
Check out the developers that have announced Upgrades
Some older plug-ins and even some Free plug-ins (not ours) may not get upgraded but I can tell you that the 64-bit conversion was not very difficult for our plug-ins and only took a couple days to convert all our tools and less than a week for Optical Flares which features a full use-interface.
So if the need is strong, any developer can offer a 64-bit version and I bet Adobe wouldn’t mind helping out with the conversion as well, Adobe has really reached out to developers including us to make sure we had everything we needed to be ready. It’s easy to think about that 1 tool that may not work with AE CS5 but just don’t forget about all the benefits!
In the most recent tutorial called 3D Ball Dispersion, we learned a technique to offset an animation one slice at a time, to create a wave-like effect with 3d balls.
After further experimentation, I’m now working on a follow-up tutorial that takes this technique even further using more built-in plug-ins for a shatter-like effect that breaks up your titles.
And ya, there is a subtle flash of our Optical Flares plug-in to spice it up
Gkaster just posted a very inspirational spot using Cinema 4D, After Effects and our own Optical Flares Plug-in. Great work with close attention to the little details… who knows, maybe we can convince him to give us a little breakdown of some of the creative work.
What’s up! Anyone notice how sad particles look when they are played against slow piano music? Well here is a test I did using CC Particle World linked to a 3D NULL! I used several copies featuring different settings to serve as the smoke particles and the light debris. I think CC Particle World has great potential to create amazing particles but it may take a little more work when compared to Particular.
Another cool tip: Once I completed the particle animation, I put the comp in a new comp and slowed it down 200% so the particle movement is slower and also more depressing in a happy good way!
Now close your eyes… and imagine what it would like with some Optical Flares!
In this tutorial we’ll use Particular and a single smoke picture to create pretty realistic smoke trails in After Effects. As a bonus I will also be using Optical Flares to add the bright lights.
Check out our New Plug-in: Optical Flares!
Our new plug-in Optical Flares includes 12 powerful Core Objects that are the building blocks for making intricate lens flares with this tool. I’ve put together a basic breakdown of the the 12 objects in a handy PDF.
You can also watch a video demonstration in the Feature Videos.
Watch Core Object Feature Video
Our new Plug-in for creating lens flares and lighting effects is now available! As always this product includes 5 advanced video tutorials plus access to the Video Copilot Preset Network for sharing lens flare presets.
2 Packages Available:
OPTICAL FLARES PLUG-IN: only $124.95
Includes the Optical Flares Plug-in, 60 Presets and 5 Video Tutorials.
OPTICAL FLARES BUNDLE: only $139.95 (save $10)
Includes all the above, plus the Pro Preset Pack with 50 high-end presets with a crazy amount of detail in each flare.
PRESET NETWORK NOTE:
Upload and share your Optical Flare presets with our new network. Your access information will be sent with your order confirmation.
GPU SUPPORT:
Yes Optical Flares has accelerated rendering with supported video cards. Be sure to install the latest driver from your card manufacturer for best performance. Of course, a video card is NOT required at all and Optical Flares renders beautifully in standard mode. In fact, Optical Flares even checks for GPU support and automatically reverts to the best option so you don’t need to do anything.
Our new plug-in Optical Flares will be available Monday morning (around 9AM PST) but we wanted to highlight some key features that you may have missed.
Be sure to check out the product page and watch the feature videos:
Go to the Optical Flares Page
Some Key Features include:
This Eclipse image is a tutorial available with Optical Flares along with 4 other advanced tutorials including a concert scene and building a wall of lights.
Optical Flares includes 12 HD textures of real lens surfaces.
Keep your eyes open for the Missile Strike tutorial at the end of the week as we combine Optical Flares with particle smoke trails!